Left, Gretchen Skrotzki, energetic principal of Frazier Park School was also principal of El Tejon School before (right) Superintendent Katherine Kleier gave herself that job on Monday. Center, Joe Flores tells trustees of his son’s broken arm, allegedly because of neglect of school grounds, which he says the district had not made a priority to fix.
Superintendent becomes El Tejon principal
By Patric Hedlund
El Tejon Unified School District (ETUSD) Superintendent Katherine A. Kleier made herself principal of the El Tejon middle school this week, reportedly announcing the change to students and personnel on Monday, Oct. 1 over the school’s P.A. system.
Background
According to parents, and trustees, Kleier confirmed she took over the position from Frazier Park School Principal Gretchen Skrotzki, hired two years ago to be site supervisor for both locations.
The change came as Kleier’s pick to fill the position of high school vice-principal reportedly failed to pass a background check. Kleier had already taken the candidate before the ETUSD Board of Governors and had secured approval for hiring in September. Allegedly, the background check had not been done in advance of submitting his name to the board.
It was anticipated that the vice principal’s job would include providing back-up support at the El Tejon School on Tuesdays and Thursdays when Principal Skrotzki is at the Frazier Park School campus, a parent reported.
Kleier has refused so far to reply to requests by The Mountain Enterprise for more information about these subjects.
Assault with a deadly weapon
On Monday The Mountain Enterprise obtained a sheriff’s report about an assault with a deadly weapon at the middle school by students on a teacher Thursday, Sept. 20.
According to the report filed by KCSO Deputy Michael Steed, at about 2 p.m. during a last period history class, disruptive students threw metal chairs at veteran teacher Jody Lee Olhava.
Olhava, who has been teaching for 23 years, said in an interview, “I’m not looking for a lawsuit, but not speaking out is not going to solve this problem. What matters is that [the district] gets very honest about what these kids are allowed to get away with.”
Politics boil over
Meanwhile, the local political season has become a cauldron of intrigue as several candidates campaign among teachers, parents and support staff, promising if elected in November to transform the voting pattern of the current board of trustees.
Parents, teachers and candidates have reported in interviews this week their determination to reverse the consistent 3-2 voting blocs of the present board that routinely uphold Superintendent Kleier’s requests.
ETUSD Board President Paula Regan, although she has either missed or walked out of six of the last seven public board meetings, leads a majority that includes Anita Anderson and Ken Hurst. Regan’s term will be up this year, after over 10 years. Hurst is completing his eighth year and Anderson her sixth year on the board.
In April 2012, 21 classified employees were laid off by a 3-2 vote the very same night that a three year contract extension with automatic raises was given to Superintendent Kleier with the same 3-2 split vote. That pattern has continued.
Observers such as candidate Dean Crabb, El Tejon Teachers Association (ETTA) representative Chuck Mullen (whose wife is a candidate) and parent Joe Flores say three trustees have settled into a predictable pattern of voting for Kleier’s proposals with too few questions, requiring too little accountability, analysis or facts.
Anderson and Hurst say they are helping to support stable leadership for the district.
Trustees John Fleming and interim appointee Stephan Kiouses often disagree between themselves, but they both frequently pose tough questions and vote against the superintendent’s priorities.
Four seats opening
With the terms of all trustees except Anderson’s expiring, four seats on the board are coming up for election. A new majority will be elected in November. The only incumbent running is Fleming.
The names of eight candidates appear on the ballot. Three confirmed they are running as a slate (Vickie Mullen, Lark Shillig and Crabb) as we go to press.
Independent candidates
Fleming said he was given a “Work Together” slate T-shirt, but was not included on their campaign card. Candidates Scott Robinson, Linda Sheldon, Bob Anderson and Tim Schantzen are independent.
Forums
All candidates are participating in next week’s forum in The Mountain Enterprise newspaper. All candidates have been invited to participate in a public, in-person town hall at Cuddy Hall in Lake of the Woods on Thursday, Oct. 18 (6:30–8:30 p.m.) to be hosted by The Mountain Enterprise, The Mountain Communities Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club and the Mountain Communities Municipal Advisory Council.
In an interview earlier this week, several candidates said they expect Kleier to attempt to “push through” an agenda regarding closing a school before the new board takes its seats.
“We just have to hold out two more months,” Fleming said.
This is part of the October 05, 2012 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.
Have an opinion on this matter? We'd like to hear from you.
